Summary
The story of Ratnagiri, the birthplace of Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, the father of Indian revolution, is presented this time in the episode to introduce readers to the legacy and memories of those who gave their lives in building the country.
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Expansion
Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded the Home Rule League with the help of Annie Besant. Bal Gangadhar Tilak got a lot of fame during the Home Rule Movement, due to which he got the title of Lokmanya. In April 1916, he founded the Home Rule League.
The main objective of the movement was to establish Swaraj in India.
The main objective of the Home Rule Movement was to establish Swaraj in India. It was not like any Satyagraha movement. In this, groups of four or five people were formed, who used to meet big politicians and lawyers all over India to explain the meaning of Home Rule League. Annie Besant came to India from Ireland.
Ratnagiri…then second was Andaman
Dr. Markand Pilankar, a physician by profession, tells that during the British era, Ratnagiri was considered as the second Andaman. This coastal town is surrounded by sea on three sides. That is why prisoners were kept here. Here many other revolutionaries including Myanmar’s King Thiba, Veer Savarkar were kept in jail. King Thiba of Brahmadesh (Myanmar) was taken hostage by the British and brought to Ratnagiri.
To keep him under house arrest, a palace was built in about 27 acres in 1885, which is still a big and popular center of tourism in Ratnagiri. According to the information, King Thiba ruled Myanmar for seven years and he was the last ruler of the country. In 1885, the British captured his kingdom by taking him hostage.
Veer Savarkar was also kept in jail here.
Veer Savarkar was kept locked in seven locks in Ratnagiri jail. A prison fighter showed them seven doors leading to the cell where they were kept. That is why it is said that he was kept locked in seven locks. Even today those shackles and chains have been kept in the 8 by 10 feet cell, due to which Savarkar was kept by the British. Along with this, there are also those heavy iron balls which were kept tied with chains in the feet. This cell is in the administrative wing of the jail. In fact, Savarkar was kept in the administrative wing of the jail to mislead the revolutionaries, so that if there was an attack on the jail to rescue them, they would not find Savarkar in jail.
Great-grandson took over the command of Kesari
Shailesh Tilak, the great-grandson of Tilak, who lives in Pune, is still associated with the publication of Kesari newspaper. They tell that one has to go to Ratnagiri only on Tilak Jayanti or death anniversary. The ancestral house of Chikhalgaon has been handed over to Lokmanya Tilak Trust. Shailesh’s wife Mukta is currently an MLA from Pune town. She has also been the mayor.
Misleading information on various sites
- Many misleading information has been put on the birthplace of Tilak. Tilak was born on 23 July 1857 in Ratnagiri. The birth is reported as Chikhli or Chikhalgaon at various sites.
- Vilas Wahane, assistant director in the Department of Archeology, says that Chikhalgaon is the ancestral village of Tilak. He was born in Ratnagiri. Tilak stayed here for 10 years. After this his teacher father Gangadhar was transferred to Pune. Tilak’s education took place in Pune.